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West pulledthrough the gates of Braidwood University, and equal amounts of relief and fear warred inside me. I had been sure they were going to bring me straight to William, and he was the last person I wanted to see. I stared at the massive buildings of the college, seeing the library named after my family. The campus wasn’t as large as others since it was private, but every building screamed wealth. And basketball was at the center of it all. Both the women’s and men’s teams were the best in the state.
“I’m staying in the dorms?” I asked, keeping my gaze on the window.
“Oh, she speaks,” West muttered as he turned down another street.
I hadn’t spoken a word since we’d left River stranded at my apartment. There was nothing I wanted to say to them. I’d rather deal with them on my terms, not when I was stuck in a car with them where I had nowhere to run.
“Each team has their own house,” Eli said, not looking away from his phone. “Since you’re on the team, you’ll be staying there.”
I scrunched my face. “Like a sorority house?”
“That’s what it used to be, until the team moved in,” he answered. “They have a room ready for you.”
“Why?” I couldn’t resist asking the question that had been burning in my mind the entire ride. “It’s obvious you’re both still pissed about what I did—”
“That’s an understatement,” West said, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror.
I swallowed, not letting his words get to me. “Then why did you get me on the basketball team?”
They were both silent, and understanding dawned on me. Shaking my head, I blew out a breath as I glared at Eli. “The families think I made this decision to come back, don’t they?”
“Don’t make it worse on yourself by running to our parents and telling them,” West warned as he parked in front of a house. “You’re home, Kat. For good.”
Home. The only time this city had felt like home was when I was with the three of them. And that was gone now too. What I was going to do this year would ensure Braidwood would never be home again.
“Are you going to get out?” Eli asked, finally glancing at me. “Or would you rather have us take you to William’s?”
Ignoring him, I opened the door and hopped out, my stomach clenching when both of them got out of the car too.
“I can go inside by myself,” I bit out, wanting to get the hell away from them. “You’ve done more than enough tonight. Assholes.”
West snickered and jerked his head to the house right next to the one they parked in front of. “That’s our house.”
My face went pale. “What?”
“The basketball teams are always together,” Eli said. “It made sense to have both teams housed close.”
Turning around, I stared at the two houses. There were maybe five feet separating them. Both were large and looked newly built. The girls’ house was painted white and had light blue shutters. A large wraparound porch was covered with chairs and a couple of patio tables. A basketball hoop was in the small driveway. The boys’ house looked identical, but it was a deep gray instead of white.
I flinched when one of them ran their hand through my hair before gripping it and pulling me back. West’s fresh cologne hit me before his lips brushed my ear.
“We’ll see you later, Bell,” he murmured, making my fists clench.
“You know my name.” I bolted forward as soon as he released me. “Use it.”
West smirked. “Nah. I like the one I gave you better.”
“We’ll pick you up at five tomorrow.” Eli must have seen my confusion, because he frowned before elaborating. “We have family dinner tomorrow.”
Panic had my heart hammering against my ribs. “It’s not Sunday.”
“They’re having a special dinner to celebrate you coming home,” West piped up.
“I’ll find my own way there.” I’d take a damn taxi over getting back in a car with them again. Spinning on my heel, I was halfway to the porch before a hand caught my wrist and I was twisted back around. My palm collided with Eli’s chest before my body could. Tilting my face up, I scowled when he didn’t let go of my arm.
“Be on the porch at five, Kat.” Eli’s voice was low and laced with warning. A warning I fully intended to fucking ignore.
Someone cleared their throat from behind me, and Eli dropped my wrist like it burned him. Both he and West began walking toward the other house without another word. Taking a deep breath, I turned around to face whoever was behind me.
